US3726786A - Process for integration of extraction processing streams - Google Patents
Process for integration of extraction processing streams Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3726786A US3726786A US00213931A US3726786DA US3726786A US 3726786 A US3726786 A US 3726786A US 00213931 A US00213931 A US 00213931A US 3726786D A US3726786D A US 3726786DA US 3726786 A US3726786 A US 3726786A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- extraction
- solids
- water
- extraction processing
- cell
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10G1/00—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
- C10G1/04—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction
- C10G1/047—Hot water or cold water extraction processes
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10C—WORKING-UP PITCH, ASPHALT, BITUMEN, TAR; PYROLIGNEOUS ACID
- C10C3/00—Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen
- C10C3/007—Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen winning and separation of asphalt from mixtures with aggregates, fillers and other products, e.g. winning from natural asphalt and regeneration of waste asphalt
Definitions
- the present invention involves a process for the integration of tar sands extraction processing streams for optimal extraction cell operation. More particularly, the process of the present invention involves the cross-blending of solids unsaturated extraction processing streams with extraction streams exhibiting the maximum tolerable limits of suspended solids as experienced in the processing of lower tar sand beds.
- bituminous sand Large deposits of bituminous sand are found in various localities throughout the world.
- bituminous sand is used herein to include those materials commonly referred to as oil sand, tar sand and the like.
- oil sand tar sand
- One of the most extensive deposits of bituminous sand occurs, for instance, in the Athabasca District of Alberta, Canada.
- the composition of these sands by weight is: from about 5% to about 20% of oil; from about 1% to about of water; and from about 70% to about 90% of inorganic solids.
- the specific gravity of the bitumen varies from about 1.0 to about 1.05. (The specific gravity of -the bitumen as well as all other values of specific gravity given herein are taken at 60 F.)
- the major portion, by weight of the inorganic solids if fine grain quartz sand having a particle size greater than about 44 microns and less than 2000 microns.
- the remaining inorganic solid matter has a particle size of less than 44 microns and is referred to as fines.
- the fines contain clay and silt including some very small particles of sand.
- the fines content typically varies from about 5% to about 30% by weight of the solid inorganic content of bituminous sand.
- the composition of bituminous sand can vary from the above-mentioned ranges and this is not too uncommon.
- clay which is found in layers of varying thickness in such sand areas, may be admixed with the bitumen, thus increasing the inorganic solids content and particular the fines content of the material to be processed.
- bituminous sand is jetted with steam or hot water and mulled with a small proportion of water at about 175 F., and the pulp is then dropped into a turbulent stream of circulating water and carried through a separation cell maintained at 3,726,786 Patented Apr. 10, 1973 an elevated temperature of about F.
- entrained air causes the oil to rise to the top in the form of a froth rich in bitumen which is then drawn oil.
- the so-called cold water method does not involve heating the bituminous sand other than whatever heating might be required to conduct the operation at room temperature.
- the process involves mixing the bituminous sand with water, soda ash and an organic solvent such as kerosene. The mixture is then permitted to settle at room temperature. A mixture of water and bitumen dissolved in the organic solvent rises to the top of the settling zone and is recovered.
- the extraction cell is maintained in an operating condition by decanting some of the middling stream as a purge, removing some of the finely divided-suspended solid material and injecting a clarified water into the cell as makeup solution.
- some of the middling stream itself may be withdrawn and replaced by a fresh water makeup. In either case, considerable expense is encountered in cleaning up the water and in the latter instance, large quantities of hot water are lost in the process which also increases the costs.
- the objects of the present invention are accomplished through utilization of a process for the recovery of bitumen from tar sands of the type wherein a fluid slurry of tar sand is introduced into a separation zone containing a. body of water and in which bitumen is floated to the top of the water in the form of a froth and recovered therefrom while sand is allowed to settle and be removed from the bottom of the body of water as tailing sand.
- the improvement of the process of the present invention comprises maintaining the concentration of solids in the extraction processing stream at a maximum tolerable operating level by removing such water as required in response to measurement of the amount of solids suspended in the Water and replenishing the water removed with the extraction processing stream from an extraction processing stream of another extraction cell processing tar sands having a lower operating level of solids suspended within the water.
- the present invention involves the integration of extraction processing streams obtained when processing tar sands from areas exhibiting low fines concentrations, for example, from upper tar sands beds with extraction processing streams obtained when processing tar sands from areas of high fines, for example, from lower tar sands beds, while etficiently maintaining the extraction cell operating conditions at a minimal expense.
- the maximum amount of suspended solids in the extraction processing stream which an extraction cell can tolerate and efficiently operate the cell is an easily determinable variable.
- the fines concentration of from about 13 to about 17 volume percent is preferred with the concentration preferably held at about 15 volume percent.
- the process comprises measuring the suspended solids level in the extraction processing stream of the several extraction cells.
- the extraction processing streams are crossblended with other extraction processing streams to provide the maximum tolerable saturation solids for efiicient bitumen extraction.
- a first extraction cell is depicted having a draft tube 36 contained therein.
- a rotation arm 38 is connected to a stirrer 40 and extended within the draft tube 36.
- Tar sands 26 and extraction water 24 are introduced into the first extraction cell 10 through pump 28 and line 30 feeding mixer 32.
- the efiiuent from mixer 32 is directly fed to first extraction cell 10 through line 22.
- the arrangement allows maximum concentration of tar sands introduced into the extraction cell 10 with the extraction processing stream present in the extraction cell 10.
- the separated solids 44 are removed through exit 42 located in the lower portion of the extraction cell 10. The removal of froth 70, containing the bitumen, from the extraction cell 10, is provided by decanting.
- the solids density within the extraction cell 10 may be measured through density sensing probe 46 electrically connected by line 48 to a density meter 50 so as to activate simultaneously through electrical connection 52 the pump 92 and valve control apparatus 58.
- the density meter 50 activates extraction processing stream removal pump 92 removing extraction processing stream 62 from the extraction cell 10.
- the particular density sensed by density sensing probe 46 determines what quantities of extraction processing stream the control valve 58 will allow through pump 92, depending upon whether or not the density of the extraction processing stream is at the maximum tolerable level for elficient operation of the extraction cell 10.
- the extraction processing stream 94 is introduced into a second extraction cell 76 through a draft tube 84 having a rotation arm 86 and stirrer 88. Solids 82 are removed from the second extraction cell 76 through exit located in the lower portion thereof.
- a density sensing probe 90 determines the solids concentration within the extraction processing stream if it is less or greater than the tolerable solids concentration through electrical line 56 to density meter 50.
- the extraction processing stream may be passed to the first extraction cell 10- for immediate use as makeup water within the extraction cell 10* through fluid line 74 controlled by valve 72 and pump 66 connected by lines 70 and 68 to draft tube 36. Froth 78 is decanted from the upper portion of the second extraction cell 76.
- control apparatus activates removal of extraction processing stream 62 from extraction cell 10 as determined by particular levels and concentration of the solids within cells 10 and 76.
- Make-up waters 12 and 14 may be required to adjust the solids concentrations of the extraction processing streams to the desired solids volume concentration of about 15%.
- the maximum amount of suspended solids in the extraction processing stream which the extraction zone can tolerate and still operate efiiciently is determined in accordance with the process of the present invention.
- Portions of the extraction processing streams are withdrawn from one or more extraction cells in processing tar sands from areas which yield multivariant concentrations of suspended solids concentration and are cross-blended to obtain the desired concentration levels for operation.
- a portion of extraction processing stream is commingled with a portion of an extraction processing stream from an upper tar sands bed having a low solids concentration in order to balance the solids concentrations within the extraction processing streams.
- the process can be integrated and made self-sustaining. Extraction processing streams of low solids concentrations are returned in appropriate volumes to those of the high solids content removed from other extraction cells. During those periods when the extraction processing streams are all low in solids content, the cross flow is curtailed and straight run processing is accomplished.
- a continu ous solids concentration sensing device such as a density meter depicted in the accompanying figure to control the various pumps and valves, the process may be automatically controlled at predetermined ranges of solids contents in the extraction processing streams and extraction cells.
- the process of the present invention provides an improved system for optimum use of extraction processing streams water Within extraction cells for the processing of tar sands.
- the process provides a means wherein tar sands mined in areas in which the tar sands fines concentration is radically changed may be used to the advantage of the tar sands processing in order to provide an efiicient and operable process for the etficient utilization of aid of waters in the tar sands bitumen recovery project.
- bitumen from bituminous sand in which a fluid slurry of bituminous sand is introduced into a first extraction cell containing a body of water and in which bitumen is floated to the top of the water in the form of a froth and recovered while sand is allowed to settle to the bottom of the body of water and removed, the improvement which comprises maintaining the concentration of solids in the body of water at less than the maximum tolerable operating level by removing such Water as required in response to measurements of the suspended solids content in the water and replenishing the water removed with water removed from a second extraction cell having a lower operating level of solids suspended within the water.
- a process for recovery of bitumen from bituminous sand in several extraction cells which comprises:
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
Abstract
D R A W I N G
Description
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US21393171A | 1971-12-30 | 1971-12-30 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3726786A true US3726786A (en) | 1973-04-10 |
Family
ID=22797080
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00213931A Expired - Lifetime US3726786A (en) | 1971-12-30 | 1971-12-30 | Process for integration of extraction processing streams |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3726786A (en) |
CA (1) | CA969495A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4425227A (en) | 1981-10-05 | 1984-01-10 | Gnc Energy Corporation | Ambient froth flotation process for the recovery of bitumen from tar sand |
US20080110805A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Continuous flow separation and aqueous solution treatment for recovery of crude oil from tar sands |
US20080111096A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Composition for extracting crude oil from tar sands |
US20080110804A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Slurry transfer line |
US20080110803A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Settling vessel for extracting crude oil from tar sands |
-
1971
- 1971-12-30 US US00213931A patent/US3726786A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1972
- 1972-12-14 CA CA158,846A patent/CA969495A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4425227A (en) | 1981-10-05 | 1984-01-10 | Gnc Energy Corporation | Ambient froth flotation process for the recovery of bitumen from tar sand |
US20080110805A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Continuous flow separation and aqueous solution treatment for recovery of crude oil from tar sands |
US20080111096A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Composition for extracting crude oil from tar sands |
US20080110804A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Slurry transfer line |
US20080110803A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Veltri Fred J | Settling vessel for extracting crude oil from tar sands |
US7694829B2 (en) | 2006-11-10 | 2010-04-13 | Veltri Fred J | Settling vessel for extracting crude oil from tar sands |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA969495A (en) | 1975-06-17 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GULF CANADA LIMITED Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:GULF OIL CANADA LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:003962/0723 Effective date: 19780508 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PETRO-CANADA EXPLORATION, INC., STATELESS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CANADA LTD.;REEL/FRAME:004063/0175 Effective date: 19821103 Owner name: PETRO-CANADA EXPLORATION, INC. Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CANADA LTD.;REEL/FRAME:004063/0175 Effective date: 19821103 |